Rich Saudis Take Over Another Hotel—But No Prisoners This Time
- New York City’s Plaza is where many Saudis with prince staying
- Saudi flag is flying outside entrance along with U.S. flag
The Plaza Hotel stands in New York.
Photographer: Michael Nagle/BloombergThe last time scores of ultra-rich Saudis took over a luxury hotel, it wasn’t by choice. In November, some 200 ministers, princes and investors were herded into Riyadh’s Ritz Carlton for several months and essentially shaken down for improperly attained lucre, part of an anti-corruption drive. The hotel was shut for other business.
This week it’s the Plaza Hotel in midtown Manhattan that’s closed to the public and where a similar number of top Saudis are lodged under very different circumstances. Members of a huge delegation led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudis are part of a three-week tour of the U.S. aimed at increasing ties and helping with Riyadh’s ambitious plan to remake its economy into one based less on oil.